Standing Room Only

When I first met my husband Todd
he practiced all the time.

When friends learned that he
was a musician they'd ask,
Oh, where does he play?
Well, he doesn't actually play...
I'd explain.
He just practices a lot.

It's hard out there in the world
for a jazz guy
playing bass clarinet.

He put together a nonet of instruments
and began to cobble together gigs
getting his compositions off the page
into the horns and out to an audience.

It was the finding an audience...
sending emails
posting fliers
the practice time cut down
to hit the pavement
looking for new venues
getting people to come out
away from the cable tv
in support of local music.

There's been many a performance
spotted with supportive friends
We love your stuff people continued to say
but not enough tickets sold to pay the band.
More often than not, Todd Marcus
lost money from a performance of
The Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra.

Yesterday, all day,
I worried about turn-out
for the release of the CD.
I kept imagining an audience of five people
all friends, nodding along with the music
representing the faithful.

But I stood at the CD sales table
and watched face after face after face
of unknown person stroll inside.
Filling up the room
standing by the doorway
while staff scurried for more chairs.
People were turned away
when the room hit maximum capacity.

Then they bought CD's too.

After the years of hard work
this blessing
screamed out
like the first solo of the night--

from the bass clarinet.